US precision breeding company Acceligen has announced it has bred pigs using gene-editing techniques that are resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS).
The company, which describes itself as a leading innovator in sustainable agriculture, said the breakthrough represents ‘a significant step forward in the pursuit for sustainable and ethical pork production’.
The company bred pigs that are naturally resistant to PRRS by deploying protein modifications developed by Kansas State University. The resistance to PRRS virus infection was proven effective through a collaboration with Professor Bob Rowland at the University of Illinois.
It described PRRS as ‘the most devastating disease to the swine industry in the US’, affecting not only the productivity of pigs, but also their health and wellness. This regularly occurring and complex disease has been documented to cause an estimated $500 million of losses to the pork producers, thus affecting the food security of countless people around the world.
The use of new breeding technology enabled by gene-editing to prevent PRRS will, therefore, improve the overall animal well-being leading to healthier animals and a safer food supply and may also reduce the environmental impact of pork production by improving efficiency, it added.
“This is an exciting time to be at the forefront of this impactful breeding application in sustainable agriculture,” said Tad Sonstegard, CEO of Acceligen.
“Our goal is to use the best tools for breeding and selection to create a better future for animals, farmers, consumers and the environment. Gene-editing is one of the most powerful breeding tools that allows us to address some of the biggest challenges facing the pork industry and to create a more sustainable and ethical food system.”
Researchers in the UK, including at the Roslin Institute in collaboration with Genus, have also been working on using gene editing to produce pigs resistant to PRRS.